Vision is one of the most important ways children learn and navigate the world. However, vision issues in kids are common. Nearly 20% of children in the United States under age 18 have a diagnosed eye disorder.

At Norton Children’s Advanced Eye Care, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine, our pediatric ophthalmologist and staff are ready to help your child see to the best of their ability.

We diagnose and treat the most complex eye conditions in infants, children, teenagers and young adults. We offer one of the country’s few ocular oncology programs. In addition to eye cancer care, we provide a broad spectrum of services, including evaluations and surgery, as well as school eye exams.

Eye Conditions We Treat

• Amblyopia (lazy eye)
• Aphakia
• Cataracts
• Chalazion
• Childhood glaucoma
• Conjunctivitis
• Diplopia (double vision)
• Esotropia
• Exotropia
• Eyelid conditions
• Eye trauma
• Nasolacrimal duct conditions
• Nystagmus
• Ocular and orbital tumors (including optic glioma and ocular hemangioma)
• Ptosis
• Refractive errors
• Retinopathy of prematurity
• Tear duct obstruction
• Uveitis

Diagnostic Tests for Pediatric Eye Conditions

A variety of diagnostic methods are used by our pediatric eye doctor to assess various aspects of a child’s vision and overall eye health. Using a combination of diagnostic tests, the pediatric eye care team can accurately diagnose your child’s eye condition and develop a tailored treatment plan for your child’s specific condition.

• Visual acuity test: Measures vision clarity as the child reads letters or symbols on an eye chart.
• Retinoscopy: A test that uses a light to determine the child’s approximate eyeglass prescription.
• Refraction test: Determines the child’s precise eyeglass prescription by using a series of lens choices.
• Cover test: Evaluates eye alignment and detects strabismus (misaligned eyes) by covering one eye at a time and observing the movement of the uncovered eye.
• Eye movement test: Assesses the child’s ability to move their eyes in different directions and coordinate eye movements.
• Stereopsis test: Measures depth perception by using special 3D images or tests like the “fly test.”
• Pupil examination: Checks the size, shape and response of the pupils to light and near-focusing tasks.
• Ocular motility test: Evaluates the child’s eye movements, tracking ability and muscle coordination.
• Color vision test: Determines the child’s ability to perceive and differentiate colors.
• Slit-lamp examination: Examines the front structures of the eye using a specialized microscope with a bright light source.
• Fundus examination: Evaluates the back of the eye, including the retina, optic nerve and blood vessels, often using dilating eye drops.
• Tonometry: Measures the intraocular pressure to screen for glaucoma or other conditions.
• Visual field test: Assesses the child’s peripheral vision and detects any loss or abnormalities.
• Electroretinography (ERG): Measures the electrical responses of the retina to assess its function.
• Optical coherence tomography (OCT): Produces detailed cross-sectional images of the eye’s structures, which is particularly useful for evaluating the retina and optic nerve.
• Ultrasound examination: Uses sound waves to produce images of the eye’s structures; it’s used for evaluating opaque structures or tumors.

It’s important to note that the specific tests administered will depend on the child’s age, symptoms and suspected eye condition. Our pediatric eye doctor will determine the appropriate tests needed to make an accurate diagnosis and provide the best care for your child.

Pediatric Eye Care Treatments

Care and management of eye conditions affecting infants, children and teens vary depending on the diagnosis. Our pediatric eye doctor, also known as a pediatric ophthalmologist, uses a range of treatment approaches tailored to meet the unique needs of young patients. These may include nonsurgical or surgical options.

Nonsurgical Eye Treatment Options

• Eye patching
  • By covering one eye, eye patching can help strengthen a weaker eye’s vision. This may be used to help treat conditions such as amblyopia.
• Vision therapy (eye exercises)
  • A set of activities or exercises that improve overall vision coordination and eye function. This may be used for conditions such as strabismus.
• Corrective or intraocular lenses
  • Wearing corrective lenses, including eyeglasses and contacts, can correct refractive errors in vision, including nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and more.
• Specialized contact lenses
  • Depending on the child’s eye condition, they may be eligible for specialized contact lenses. These may include contact lenses of varying sizes for astigmatism and more.
• Prism glasses or regular glasses
  • Special prism lenses may be recommended to treat children with double vision.
• Warm compresses and/or massage (for tear duct obstruction)
  • Children with dry eye or meibomian gland dysfunction may be instructed by their eye doctor to use warm compresses or massage to help produce more moisture in the eyes.
• Medications including antibiotic eye drops or ointments
  • If your child has an eye infection or other eye issue, they may be prescribed eye drops, which can include antibiotics. Your child’s eye doctor will prescribe medications as needed.

Surgical Eye Treatment Options

Our pediatric surgical team is certified and trained to perform ophthalmic procedures in children, which may include pediatric eye surgery. We understand you may have questions about your child’s care and recommended treatment plan, which is why we discuss these procedures in great detail to ensure everyone understands the goals for your child’s treatment.

Surgical eye procedures include:

• Probe and irrigate nasolacrimal duct obstruction (tear duct blockage)
• Strabismus, or eye muscle, surgery to fix misalignments (crossed eyes, wall eyes, misaligned eyes)
• Injection and laser photocoagulation for retinopathy of prematurity
• Glaucoma surgeries, including trabeculectomy and goniotomy
• Eyelid cyst removal (excision of chalazion)
• Cataract removal with placement of a lens implant
• Ptosis repair surgery for droopy eyelids
• Botox injection of eye muscles to fix misalignments

The selected treatment approach is based on the severity and individual needs of the child. The treatment plan will be determined by your child’s eye doctor after a thorough examination and evaluation of their condition.

The Norton Children’s Difference

The care your child needs is close to home at Norton Children’s. With a 125-year presence in Louisville, Norton Children’s is a leader in pediatric care across Kentucky and Southern Indiana, providing an expanded footprint that includes:

• Norton Children’s Hospital – The region’s only full-service, free-standing pediatric hospital and Louisville’s only Level I Pediatric Trauma Center. Norton Children’s Hospital also has one of the largest Level IV (highest level) neonatal intensive care units in the country.
• Numerous regional outpatient centers and extensive pediatrician and pediatric specialist offices throughout the area.
• Norton Women’s & Children’s Hospital – The only women’s hospital in Louisville, providing care dedicated to the needs of women and children.
• Norton Children’s Medical Center – A unique regional outpatient facility designed “Just for Kids,” bringing pediatric care to northeastern Jefferson County and the surrounding area.

Norton Children’s offers specialized programs and services, including:

• Norton Children’s Cancer Institute, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine, and the Addison Jo Blair Cancer Care Center, which is one of the oldest oncology programs in the U.S. and continuously accredited by the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer.
• Norton Children’s Heart Institute, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine, a pioneer in pediatric cardiothoracic surgery. Norton Children’s heart transplant surgeons performed Kentucky’s first heart transplant in a newborn in 1986, making the hospital the second site in the United States for infant transplants. Norton Children’s Hospital is home to the Jennifer Lawrence Cardiac Intensive Care Unit.
• Pediatric neurology and neurosurgery through Norton Children’s Neuroscience Institute, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine, including a Level 4 epilepsy center
• Orthopedic surgery and rehabilitation
• Wendy Novak Diabetes Institute, a comprehensive diabetes care center offering education and treatment for Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes